Interjet returns all Superjet 100s into operations

Half of Interjet’s SSJ 100 fleet was grounded due to defects in stabilizer attachment unit (Photo by SuperJet International)

Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company has completed rectification of defects on all of the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ 100) regional aircraft operated by Mexico’s Interjet. The five aircraft that had remained grounded were released by January 10, SCAC said in a statement.

The defect had been detected on 11 out of Interjet’s 22 SSJ 100s. Works to restore the aircraft’s air worthiness began in December last year, and the first six aircraft returned to operation in the first week of January. The procedure was coordinated with Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency and monitored by the Mexican aviation authority, DGAC.

The Mexican carrier is the largest operator of Sukhoi Superjet 100 outside Russia. Dispatch reliability of Interjet’s fleet is among the highest for the type. Since the Russian aircraft entered service with Interjet in 2013, they performed over 75,000 flights, with total flight time in excess of 90,000 hours. Grounding half of the fleet caused problems to the airline’s operations.

Cracks in the lugs of the stabilizer upper and lower bracket attachment bands were detected during a planned inspection of SSJ 100s operated by Russian airline IrAero at the end of December, after which FATA issued an airworthiness directive stopping all aircraft of the type for checks. The entire fleet was inspected within several days by the aircraft’s OEM. SCAC assured that all of the defect units would be replaced before the end of January.